As talk resumes about the possibility of dividing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources into two separate agencies, a small group of people most familiar with the inner workings of the organization feel the move would be a bad idea. Five former DNR
secretaries and a past deputy secretary signed a letter this week calling on lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker to reject the concept.

"It is our experience from administering the agency that the issues that the DNR deals with on a daily basis require constant interaction between the Department's 25+ Bureaus," the memo said. "Breaking up the DNR would create the need for additional salaried
executives and other personnel for a new agency as well as higher executive pay in departments that would have hundreds of additional employees to manage."

Rep. Adam Jarchow has been talking about drafting legislation to split the DNR since last year. The Balsam Lake Republican feels that one division of the agency could focus on growing and promoting Wisconsin's sporting heritage, while the other office would
concentrate on protecting the environment and natural resources.